HC stays case against Dr Yunus

The High Court yesterday stayed for six months the proceedings of a criminal case filed against Nobel Laureate and Grameen Telecom Chairman Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus on charge of violating the labour law.

The court also issued a rule asking the state to explain why the case proceedings against Prof Yunus should not be scrapped.

The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) filed the case on September 9 with a labour court in Dhaka, saying that a DIFE team went on an inspection to Grameen Telecom and found evidence of the violations, as it did not regularise 101 staff and did not establish a welfare fund for the labourers.

Yesterday, the HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan came up with the stay order and rule following a petition filed by Dr Yunus challenging the legality of the filing and initiation of the case against him, Assistant Attorney General Mahfuzur Rahman Likhon told The Daily Star.

He said the bench issued the order on the arguments that Dr Yunus is the honorary chairman of Grameen Telecom, not its beneficiary.

A labour court in Dhaka on October 12 granted bail to Muhammad Yunus in the case.

Lawyer Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for Dr Yunus, while Deputy Attorney General Rezaul Karim represented the state.